You should limit physical activity until the pain and swelling go away. The health care provider may put you on crutches and in a brace to protect the ligament. You may also be told not to put any weight on your knee when you walk.

After a period of keeping the knee still, you should do exercises to strengthen and stretch the knee. Physical therapy may help you regain knee and leg strength.

It is rare that the LCL is the only ligament injured. If it is a partial tear, it can be treated without surgery by using only immobilization and rest.

More commonly, the LCL is injured with other ligament injuries due to a knee dislocation. These are usually significant injuries, and you should seek medical help immediately. When injuries to other ligaments also occur, surgery is needed to prevent future instability of the knee.

Do Not

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

You injure your knee and have symptoms of LCL injury (injury to the LCL is often a serious knee injury, which can include many knee ligaments and injuries to the nerves and blood vessels)

You are being treated for an LCL injury and you notice increased instability in your knee, pain or swelling return after they subsided, or your injury does not go away with time

You re-injure your knee

Prevention

Use proper technique when exercising or playing sports. Many cases may not be preventable.

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